Acts 21

Paul’s Journey to Jerusalem

1When we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.#21.1 Other ancient authorities add and Myra 2#Acts 11.19When we found a ship bound for Phoenicia, we went on board and set sail. 3We came in sight of Cyprus, and leaving it on our left, we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, because the ship was to unload its cargo there. 4#v 11; Acts 20.23We looked up the disciples and stayed there for seven days. Through the Spirit they told Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5#Acts 20.36When our days there were ended, we left and proceeded on our journey, and all of them, with wives and children, escorted us outside the city. There we knelt down on the beach and prayed 6and said farewell to one another. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

7 # Acts 12.20 When we had finished#21.7 Or continued the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais, and we greeted the brothers and sisters and stayed with them for one day. 8#Eph 4.11; 2 Tim 4.5The next day we left and came to Caesarea, and we went into the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the seven, and stayed with him. 9#Lk 2.36; Acts 2.17He had four unmarried daughters#21.9 Gk four daughters, virgins, who had the gift of prophecy. 10While we were staying there for several days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11#Acts 20.23He came to us and took Paul’s belt, bound his own feet and hands with it, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘This is the way the Jews in Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and will hand him over to the gentiles.’ ” 12When we heard this, we and the people there urged him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13#Acts 20.24Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14#Mt 26.42; Lk 22.42Since he would not be persuaded, we remained silent except to say, “The Lord’s will be done.”

15After these days we got ready and started to go up to Jerusalem. 16#vv 3, 4Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came along and brought us to the house of Mnason of Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we were to stay.

Paul Visits James at Jerusalem

17 # Acts 15.4 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. 18#Acts 12.17; 15.13The next day Paul went with us to visit James, and all the elders were present. 19#Acts 1.17; 14.27; 20.24After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the gentiles through his ministry. 20#Acts 22.3; Rom 10.2; Gal 1.14When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law. 21They have been told about you that you teach all the Jews living among the gentiles to forsake Moses and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs. 22What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come. 23#Acts 18.18So do what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow. 24#v 26; Acts 24.18Join these men, go through the rite of purification with them, and pay for the shaving of their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you but that you yourself observe and guard the law. 25#Acts 15.20, 29But as for the gentiles who have become believers, we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled#21.25 Other ancient authorities lack and from what is strangled and from sexual immorality.” 26#Num 6.13; Acts 24.18Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having purified himself, he entered the temple with them, making public the completion of the days of purification when the sacrifice would be made for each of them.

Paul Arrested in the Temple

27 # Acts 24.18; 26.21 When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him, 28#Acts 24.5, 6shouting, “Fellow Israelites,#21.28 Gk Men, Israelites help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29#Acts 18.19; 20.4For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30#Acts 16.19; 26.21Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32#Acts 23.27Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33#v 11; Acts 20.23Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done. 34#v 37; Acts 19.32Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35When Paul#21.35 Gk he came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36#Lk 23.18; Jn 19.15; Acts 22.22The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”

Paul Defends Himself

37Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune#21.37 Gk He replied, “Do you know Greek? 38#Mt 24.26; Acts 5.36Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39#Acts 9.11; 22.3Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.” 40#Acts 12.17; 22.2; 26.14When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew#21.40 That is, Aramaic language, saying:

Currently Selected:

Acts 21: NRSVUE

Highlight

Copy